Short Summary

After nearly ten weeks of talks and negotiations, the Four-Power Foreign Ministers' Conference held a final plenary session August 5 at Geneva before adjourning until an 'unknown date'.

Description

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GV INT. PAN over Foreign Ministers seated at round table.
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CU M. Couve de Murville bids farewell to Gromyko.
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CU Mr. Selwyn Lloyd.
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CU Gromyko.
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CU Herter.
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GV PAN Ministers leaving conference room.
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LV EXT. Selwyn Lloyd waves before entering car.
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CU Car away.
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LV Cove de Murville enters car.
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GV Cameramen.
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LV Gromyko waves and enters car.
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LV Herter enters car.
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CU PAN Car away.
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Initials ANH/AW/AS

Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: After nearly ten weeks of talks and negotiations, the Four-Power Foreign Ministers' Conference held a final plenary session August 5 at Geneva before adjourning until an 'unknown date'.

A communique on the "little Summit" said the position on both sides had becomes clearer, and formed a basis for further negotiations needed to reach agreement on the Berlin question. Although this major issue remains unsolved, agreement was reached on the resumption of disarmament talks in a 10-nation body to be set up in the framework of the United Nations.

Agreement on new disarmament talks is a welcome development. It means that Russia has abandoned her attitude towards the forum in which the subject should be discussed. Russian objections were that she was out-numbered by four to one in the U.N. disarmament sub-committee.

Britain's Selwyn Lloyd speaking on Berlin said: "No specific agreement has been concluded, but we have not made it more difficult for later agreement". Said U.S. Secretary of State, Christian Herter: "Nothing that the Soviet Union was asked to state or do at Geneva would add to or detract from Western rights in Berlin, or from Soviet responsibilities". His views were endorsed by M. Couve de Murville (France). Russia's Andrei Gromyko said the importance of the conference "lies above all in that serious attempts were made to bring closer together views on major unsettled international problems.

The Ministers are to report on the conference to their respective Governments. Time and place for the resumption of the talks will be settled through diplomatic channels. Most likely date: Middle of next month when the four Foreign Ministers will be in New York for the United Nations General Assembly.

The Little Summit has so far set a record for length of negotiations at Foreign Minister level.